Record cold this winter could have an impact on the start of the spring construction season. Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson, Kerry Koonce says warmer temperatures won’t immediately signal the start of construction. “The ground, they’re saying, is frozen so deep that that’s really going to have an impact on when some of them get started,” Koonce says. Spring begins on Thursday, but Koonce says it will be awhile before spring construction takes off.

She says things probably won’t pick up until we get into April. The construction industry lost jobs for the second month in a row in January.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

MARQUETTE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a massive fire that damaged or destroyed several businesses and homes in the northeast Iowa community of Marquette. Firefighters from eight area departments battled the blaze for hours after it was first reported Monday morning on North Street in downtown Marquette. No injuries were reported.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge says a cancer-stricken 73-year-old man accused of killing his wife in 1997 can leave an Iowa prison and live at his Minnesota home until trial. Judge Paul Miller ruled Tuesday that John Bloomfield will be on house arrest at his St. Paul, Minn., residence until the July 8 trial. Bloomfield is charged in the slaying of 57-year-old Frances Bloomfield.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has overwhelmingly passed legislation that aims to increase penalties for offenders in kidnapping cases involving minors. The bill would toughen penalties for kidnapping offenders in cases involving victims 17 years old and younger. It also would eliminate earned-time credit that reduces an inmate’s sentence for good behavior.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa House has approved a bill that would require state educators to provide schools with information on radon safety and encourage them to test for the gas. Schools would report to the state Department of Education about how they’re practicing radon safety. The bill returns to the Senate.

Two more counties are being be added to the list of counties in the KJAN listening area which have called for a ban on open burning. A Burn Ban went into effect at 10-a.m. Tuesday, for Fremont County. Later that same day, emergency management officials in Page, Pottawattamie and Montgomery Counties announced Burn Bans would be in effect in those counties beginning at 8-a.m. today (Wednesday). The bans will remain in effect until further notice.

The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. As dry conditions persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly. Pottawattamie County EMA Director Doug Reed says Pott. County “Has seen the devastating effects of fire in extreme conditions and we want to do everything we can to help mitigate an incident like that from occurring.”

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban. Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban.

Police in Red Oak have arrested a local man on 2nd degree arson and breach of peace charges. 32-year old Paul Earl Lemburg II, of Red Oak, was arrested at 209 east Nuckols Street on Tuesaday, at around 3:15-p.m.. Lemberg was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

Also arrested Tuesday afternoon, was 31-year old Anthony David Smith, of Red Oak. Smith was charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management reports a burning ban will be in place for Pottawattamie County starting Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. The ban prohibits open burning in Pottawattamie County, including all the cities within the county.

The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. As dry conditions persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly. EMA Director Doug Reed says Pott. County “Has seen the devastating effects of fire in extreme conditions and we want to do everything we can to help mitigate an incident like that from occurring.”

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban. Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. For more information on burn bans and the law you can find further information on our facebook page or you may call 712-328-5777.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state senator from Des Moines has asked Gov. Terry Branstad to turn over public documents related to settlements reached with employees who were laid off then paid to sign agreements to keep it quiet. Sen. Janet Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, and chairwoman of the Iowa Senate Oversight Committee, says she wants copies of any such agreements since January 2011. She also wants to know who requested the agreements and who authorized the payments.

On Sunday the Des Moines Register reported that more than $280,000 was paid to six former state employees. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she and Branstad were unaware of the agreements and a comprehensive review is under way. Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers says results of the review and any action taken will be made public.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman has announced a Burn Ban will be in effect for that county beginning at 8-a.m. Tuesday and lasting until further notice. Fremont County has already instituted a ban on open, outdoor burning. Hamman says several other counties in southwest Iowa are in the process of issuing a Burn Ban.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lawmakers in the Iowa Senate have approved a measure aimed at establishing more anti-bullying efforts in schools across the state. The Democratic-majority Senate narrowly cleared the bill Tuesday in a straight party-line vote, 26-19. The legislation now goes to the Republican-controlled House, where lawmakers are wrangling with a similar measure.

The bill is meant to help schools better address bullying. But Sen. David Johnson, a Republican from Ocheyedan, says the proposal falls short in its effort to ensure student safety. Sen. Robert Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids who sponsored the bill, argues Republicans are neglecting to consider the well-being of children by refusing their support of the measure.

Cracking down on bullying has been a priority for Gov. Terry Branstad this session.

Police in Atlantic report the arrest on Monday of a local man on an OWI charge. 26-year old Sophin Phylon, of Atlantic, was charged with OWI/1st offense and brought to the Cass County Jail, where he was being held pending an appearance in front of the magistrate.

The Shelby County Supervisors have approved the purchase of a new motor grader for the Shelby County Engineer’s Office. In a meeting held this (Tuesday) morning, Shelby County Engineer Dan Ahart presented two bids, one from Zeigler and the other from John Deere.

Zeigler was the low bid for a new 2013 Caterpillar at $201,810 which included a trade in from the county of a 2005 Caterpillar motor grader. Ahart also put together a resolution to place stop signs on Hickory Road and Ironwood Road south of Westphalia. The reasoning behind the resolution was a safety concern, as Supervisor Roger Schmitz said he drives by the two “T” intersections on 1400^th Street almost daily and is very dangerous.

In fact, the county had a couple of accidents on the intersections in 2013. The resolution was approved. The stop signs will now be at all three sections of the “Ts” and signs will be posted of an upcoming stop ahead. The stop signs will be installed later this week. In other business, Shelby County Auditor Marsha Carter said the courthouse had received some customer complaints in regards to the courthouse steps being closed during inclement weather. The board has a policy where as the steps to the courthouse are blocked off during ice and snow as a safety precaution.

No change in the policy was made. The Shelby County Supervisors heard also from Chris Nelson of Gronewold and Company, on the Fiscal Year 2013 Audit, which was subsequently approved.

(Joel McCall/ KNOD)